Whentroubledconsciencesfindhealingtheybecomeaforceforgood.Theconscience,ourinnermoralcompass,isasensitiveinstrumentmeanttowarnusagainstallthatmightendangerourlifeandhappiness.Manytodaydespiseorignoretheconscience,callingitsworkingunhealthyrepressionofnaturalurges,orrejectinganycertaintyinthenameofrelativism.Othersaretormentedbyitsaccusations.Inthislittlebook,Arnoldpointsthewaytocompletehealingandrestorationofeventhemosttroubledconscience.WhenChrist’sforgivenesssetstheconsciencefreeandfloodsitwithhislive-renewingspirit,itbecomesanactiveforceforgood,givingusclarityinpersonal,social,andpoliticalquestionsandleadingustopeace,joy,justice,andcommunity.TheConscienceisthesecondvolumeoffiveinInnerLand:AGuideintotheHeartoftheGospel.AboutInnerLandAtrustedguideintotheinnerrealmwhereourspiritsfindstrengthtomasterlifeandliveforGod.ItishardtoexaggeratethesignificanceofInnerland,eitherforEberhardArnoldorhisreaders.Itabsorbedhisenergiesoffandonformostofhisadultlife--fromWorldWarI,whenhepublishedthefirstchapterunderthetitleWar:ACalltoInwardness,to1935,thelastyearofhislife.PackedinmetalboxesandburiedatnightforsafekeepingfromtheNazis,whoraidedtheauthor’sstudyayearbeforehisdeath(andagainayearafterit),InnerlandwasnotopenlycriticalofHitler’sregime.Nevertheless,itattackedthespiritsthatanimatedGermansociety:itsmurderousstrainsofracismandbigotry,itsheadynationalisticfervor,itsmindlessmasshysteria,anditsvulgarmaterialism.InthissenseInnerlandstandsasstarklyopposedtothezeitgeistofourowndayastothatoftheauthor’s.Ataglance,thefocusofInnerlandseemstobethecultivationofthespirituallifeasanendinitself.Nothingcouldbemoremisleading.Infact,toEberhardArnoldtheverythoughtofencouragingthesortofselfishsolitudewherebypeopleseektheirownprivatepeacebyshuttingoutthenoiseandrushofpubliclifearoundthemisanathema.HewritesinTheInnerLife:“Thesearetimesofdistress.Wecannotretreat,willfullyblindtotheoverwhelmingurgencyofthetaskspressingonsociety.Wecannotlookforinnerdetachmentinaninnerandouterisolation...Theonlyjustificationforwithdrawingintotheinnerselftoescapetoday’sconfusing,hecticwhirlwouldbethatfruitfulnessisenrichedbyit.Itisaquestionofgainingwithin,throughunitywitheternalpowers,astrengthofcharacterreadytobetestedinthestreamoftheworld.“Innerland,then,callsusnottopassivity,buttoaction.ItinvitesustodiscovertheabundanceofalifelivedforGod.Itopensoureyestothepossibilitiesofthat“innerlandoftheinvisiblewhereourspiritcanfindtherootsofitsstrengthandthusenableustopressontothemasteryoflifewearecalledtobyGod.“Onlythere,saysEberhardArnold,canourlifebeplacedundertheilluminatinglightoftheeternalandseenforwhatitis.Onlytherewillwefindtheclarityofvisionweneedtowinthedailybattlethatislife,andtheinneranchorwithoutwhichwewillloseourmoorings.
